Now that the Stanley Cup has been awarded and next week’s NHL draft is coming into focus, the Rick Nash Trade Bonanza, Part II, is shifting into high gear.

NHL sources have told The Dispatch that as many as seven teams have had “significant” trade conversations with Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson about Nash during the past 10 days and that a handful of other clubs — three or four, maybe more — have “kicked the tires” to see what a deal might cost them.

Most of the teams known to be expressing interest are the ones that expressed interest at the February trade deadline.

The New York Rangers, stocked with young, promising forwards, still appear to be the most likely fit for Nash, and their desire might have been heightened during the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Rangers’ 2.15 goals per game in the playoffs was the second-lowest figure of any club to advance past the first round.

Also known to have considerable interest are San Jose, Philadelphia, Toronto and Carolina, apparently a late entry, sources said.

The Blue Jackets have set their demands high — too high, some general managers have suggested — for Nash, the owner of almost every meaningful Blue Jackets record.

Any return the Blue Jackets get will have to include help at Nash’s position of forward. That doesn’t preclude a defenseman being in the mix, but losing Nash would gut an offense that has never scored enough goals even with him in the lineup.

Howson would not comment on Nash trade scenarios but said, speaking generally, he has had “significantly more discussions this week” with fellow general managers.

Nash and his agent, Joe Resnick of Toronto, have declined public comment since the end of the regular season.

The most likely scenario is that Nash gets traded next Thursday, on the eve of the draft, or Friday, when the first-round plays out in Pittsburgh. Should draft weekend pass with Nash still in Columbus, the next likely window would be after the start of free agency on July 1.

One possible wrinkle: Highly regarded NHL executive John Davidson, who is leaving the St. Louis Blues after six years as president of hockey operations, interviewed with the Blue Jackets for a front office job last month.It is unclear where Davidson is headed next or when he might depart the Blues once a contract settlement is reached, but sources said the Blue Jackets are not holding up any of their plans for Nash, the draft or free agency waiting for a decision to be reached on Davidson.

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